Masters 10K Championship

Presented by The Paso Robles Inn (the official race hotel)

Start time: 8:45
Cost: $20 (After 9/12/2008, $25)

T he Heritage Oaks Bank Family Fun Day and Fun Run is in its fourth of a five year commitment to host the best masters runners in the United States. The Masters 10K Championship is open to all runners age 40 and over.

The National Championship was highlighted in 2006 by Dennis Simonaitis, 44, of Draper, Utah, becoming the event's first three-time U.S. Master Men's 10K Champion with a time of 30:30. In 2005, Colleen De Reuck, 41, of Boulder, Colorado set a new women's U.S. Masters National Championship 10K with a time of 33:32.

Three Masters National 10K records were set in 2004. Antoni NieMcZak, 48, of Albuquerque, NM set a Masters National 10K record for his age group with a time of 31:09. Also setting National Masters 10K age-group records were Shirley Matson, 63, of Larkspur, CA with a time of 43:02 and Barbara Miller, 65, of Modesto, CA with a time of 43:57.

Several course records were also set in 2003, as former Olympian Eddy Hellebuyck of Albuqerque, NM, set a new Masters National 10K record time of 29:05, former Olympian Linda Somers-Smith of San Luis Obispo, CA, set a new women's course record of 34:38, and former Olympian, Barbara Miller of Modesto, CA set a new 60-64 age group record in a time of 45:21.

The Masters championship awards money to the top eight open places. Money will also be given to the top eight age-graded finishers. USA ribbons and patches will be awarded to the top three in each age group.

USATF also requires that all championship prize money winners must be U.S. citizens and current members of USA Track & Field.

The course is a flat and fast two loop course through the downtown streets of Paso Robles.

The money breakdown for the Masters $26,000 total prize purse is as follows: